Audit of Westchester Medical Center reveals poor management

The state comptroller has issued a scathing report on Westchester County Health Care Corporation, which runs the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.

The audit covered a period between January 2002 and December 2004. According to the audit, inaccurate budget projections of more than $60 million, bad management decisions, poor financial controls and inadequate accounting systems led to a $207 million deficit. That number does not include the $60 million deficit projected for this year. The audit was called for by County Executive Andy Spano and was supported by the hospital?s new board led by Richard Berman. Berman says the hospital has already implemented many of the 10 recommendations given in the report.

The state comptroller says he will be checking back in a year to make sure that all the required changes are implemented.